Security theater charade

Question

HiWhat the phrase "security theater charade" mean in the text below? Please let me know. Thank you.I am writing to request that you take action on the on-going abuses that have come to characterize the security theater charade of airport security through the TSA.  The Transportation Security Administration has created a security apparatus that is built on smoke-screens and mirrors, one that results in a continual eroding of constitutional rights, and an illusion of security.RegardsJackson

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

I think a better phrasing would have been 'theatrical charade'— basically, a fake performance with a lot of sound and fury (smokescreens and mirrors are theatrical devices for deceiving the audience).

Anonymous · Answer

What they're trying to say is that TSA, which is supposed to provide airport security, instead provides "security theater," that is, a performance that resembles security measures, but is actually a worthless "charade."

Jackson6612 · Answer

Thank you, Mr Micawber, Anon.

@Mr Micawber: You are right. The suggested phrasing would have made more sense to me.By the way, could you please tell me how the mirrors are used in a theatrical performance to deceive the audience? Thank you.

Best wishes
Jackson

Mister Micawber · Answer

I use the term broadly.  They are used in magic disappearing acts (I am told).

Enoon · Answer

The expression is "smoke and mirrors", not "smokescreens and mirrors". The writer got carried away, as often happens when righteous indignation gets into it, and exceeded his grasp of his own language. Both "security theater charade" and "smoke-screens and mirrors" are embarassing blunders. Spell it "smokescreen" or "smoke screen"—there is no hyphen in it.

Magicians use smoke and mirrors in their tricks, smoke to hide what they're doing and mirrors to show things that are not there. "Smoke and mirrors" is a common expression, used to characterize empty deception: "The governor's crackdown on crime was nothing but smoke and mirrors."

Jackson6612 · Answer

Thank you, Mr Micawber, enoon.

enoonThe expression is "smoke and mirrors", not "smokescreens and mirrors". The writer got carried away, as often happens when righteous indignation gets into it, and exceeded his grasp of his own language. Both "security theater charade" and "smoke-screens and mirrors" are embarassing blunders. Spell it "smokescreen" or "smoke screen"—there is no hyphen in it.Magicians use smoke and mirrors in their tricks, smoke to hide what they're doing and mirrors to show things that are not there. "Smoke and mirrors" is a common expression, used to characterize empty deception: "The governor's crackdown on crime was nothing but smoke and mirrors."

I understand that I'm looking into it more than I really should. Anyway, I don't get why "security theater charade" is an embarrassing blunder. You can object to the way they carry out the security measures but I don't see how it could fall into the category of "embarrassing blunders". Yes, it would be an embarrassment if even after all that hassle of security there are incidents which poses threat to the security of the passengers. Isn't the system overall effective?

How would you define "empty deception"? I'm more interested in knowing the sense "empty" is used here. Isn't it used in the sense of 'silly', 'nonsense'?

Thank you very much for the help.

Best wishes
Jackson

Enoon · Answer

Jackson6612 I don't get why "security theater charade" is an embarrassing blunder.

I meant that the writer made a mistake of language. "Security theater charade" is on the face of it nonsense.

By "empty" I meant that the thing described as "smoke and mirrors" is illusory, insubstantial, empty. "She finally realized that the glamorous life Rick had promised her was all smoke and mirrors. He would always have nothing and be nothing."

Jackson6612 · Answer

Thanks a lot, enoon.

I'm sorry. Now I see I had it wrong. But how would you differentiate between "genuine deception" and "empty deception"? Please let me know. Thanks.

Regards
Jackson

Enoon · Answer

"Empty" does not usually go with "deception". I just used "empty" to emphasize the fact that there is nothing there.

Jackson6612 · Answer

Thank you for the reply.

Best wishes
Jackson

Security theater charade

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions